Eric D. Schaeffer

{{About|the theater director/producer|the American filmmaker|Eric Schaeffer|the film historian/professor|Eric Schaefer}}

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Eric D. Schaeffer is an American theater director and producer based in Arlington County, Virginia.

He is the co-founder and former{{cite web |last1=Lefrak |first1=Mikaela |title=Signature Theatre's Co-Founder Eric Schaeffer Steps Down Following Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct |url=https://wamu.org/story/20/06/24/signature-theatres-co-founder-eric-schaeffer-steps-down-following-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct/?fbclid=IwAR3cRmwj4UrP-nMumuqHKPtam5s13bwKAJZZ73h8hdmlk4CAeLKlzD2asrw |website=WAMU |accessdate=24 June 2020 |ref=14}} Artistic Director of Signature Theatre.,[http://www.sig-online.org/ Official Website of Signature Theatre] sig-online.org and is well known nationally for his re-invention of large American musicals for small black box venues. He has produced many of the works of Stephen Sondheim, stating that the Signature production of Sweeney Todd in the 1990-1991 season "put us on the map".Floyd, Jerry.[http://www.sondheim.com/interview/sig.html "Interview:Side by Side with Eric D. Schaeffer"], sondheim.com, ca. 1998, retrieved February 21, 2010 Under his leadership, Signature Theatre was chosen to receive the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award.[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003159.html?categoryId=1983&cs=1] variety.com

Over its first 21 years, Schaeffer led the Theatre to 70 Helen Hayes Awards[http://helenhayes.org/] helenhayes.org and 283 Helen Hayes nominations for outstanding excellence in the theater. He created The American Musical Voices Project[http://signature-theatre.org/american_voices.htm "American Musical Voices Project Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512181209/http://www.signature-theatre.org/american_voices.htm |date=2008-05-12 }}, signature-theatre.org[http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=9703 "Photo Coverage: American Musical Voices Project Awards"], broadwayworld.com and The American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation,[http://signature-theatre.org/american_voices_next_gen.htm "American Musical Voices Project - The Next Generation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828085356/http://www.signature-theatre.org//american_voices_next_gen.htm |date=2008-08-28 }}, signature-theatre.org[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118877.html "Composers Conner, Gwon, Kahane Get Commissions at Signature; Foley, Michelson Snag Grants"], playbill.com which has awarded over $500,000 in commissions to writers for new American musicals. He has directed on Broadway,[http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=16079 "Schaeffer listing"], ibdb.com West End in London, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and served as the Artistic Director of The Sondheim Celebration at The Kennedy Center in 2002.[http://www.sondheimguide.com/concerts3.html#Kennedy "The Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration, 2002"] sondheimguide.com, accessed March 4, 2011

Schaeffer is a graduate of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary degree, a Doctor of Humane Letters, from his alma mater.[http://www2.kutztown.edu/news-and-media/news-releases/may-2012/honorary-doctorates-to-be-presented-at-commencement.htm "Honorary Doctorates to be Presented at Commencement"] kutztown.edu, accessed February 15, 2013.

On June 24, 2020, Schaeffer stepped down as Artistic Director of Signature Theatre amid accusations of sexual assault.{{Cite news |last=Marks |first=Peter |date=24 June 2020 |title=Signature Theatre co-founder steps down amid accusations of sexual assault |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/signature-theatre-co-founder-steps-down-amid-accusations-of-sexual-assault/2020/06/24/3974eae4-b617-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html |access-date=24 June 2020}} An investigation by a lawyer hired by the Signature board found the allegations to be “not credible.”{{Cite news |last=Marks |first=Peter |date=24 June 2020 |title=Signature Theatre co-founder steps down amid accusations of sexual assault |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/signature-theatre-co-founder-steps-down-amid-accusations-of-sexual-assault/2020/06/24/3974eae4-b617-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html |access-date=24 June 2020}} However, an article published contemporaneously by DCist documented multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. {{cite web | url=https://dcist.com/story/20/06/24/signature-theatre-eric-schaeffer-va-out-sexual-misconduct/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625021742/https://dcist.com/story/20/06/24/signature-theatre-eric-schaeffer-va-out-sexual-misconduct/ | url-status=live | archive-date=June 25, 2020 | title=Signature Theatre Co-Founder Eric Schaeffer Resigns After Renewed Sexual Misconduct Allegations }}